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March 8, 1932. R: E; MANLEY 1,848,961

, BALLGONTIRE INSPECTION Filed Jan. '21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQR. 2 RQEZManZg.

BY v

March 8, 1932. R: E. MANLEY 1,348,951

' BALLOON TIRE INSPECTION I Filed Jan. 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

B3 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 8, 1 932 j ED i 11m; CoMrANmoF roan, PE SYLVANIQA coarolmriowor ELAWARE the presentinvention.

I L A V LT E INSPEQT Application filed January 21, 1928. sem11 0.-248,l321

-';This'i1ivention relates to apparatus for spreading pneumatic tire casings to'facilitate theinspection and repair thereof, and has for its principal object the-provision of a device. of this kind wherein the action of the 'sep-- aratin'g members is smoother'than in previous machines and better suited toopening the carcass without danger to the tire fabric, most machines of the prior art tending to stretch the tire rather than gently to unroll it as in Alfurther object of the presentiny ention is to improve generally the controlof, devices of this nature, by "using less air pressure per square ineh'andby so arranging; the Valves'as j to permit theiwor-kmanto have both hands free when operating the controlusystem in eitherdirection. 1;-

'jA'stil-l iurther objectof the invention isto I proyide means whereby the'workmanmay position a heavy tire inproper inspection'positic'n without the necessity oflifting it over 7 thejtop of the usualpivotediguiding bracket;

I eferring the accompanying drawings ,Figure l is a 'front elevation of an apparatus einb'odyingthe presentinvention; and

i to

Figure 2 is alve'rtical sectional Iview taken on the line 2 2 otFigure l. a r Theframe'supporting the mechanism comprises a-hori'zontal base 10 formed o'fxany suit able'niaterial, from which rise a pair of bars) 11 disposedin aztran sverseyertical plane, in-

"clininglaterally towards each other, and connected at their 'upper endsby a lamp housing '12 and at an intermediate point bya'cross bar 131 The'bars 11 inaybeot an'gle'iron,=as illustrated, or Lrnay have other I suitable torni; 3 Thesebars. are securely boltedto the base andare braced by diagonal bars .14 which "are "boltedithereto at '15] and have fo'otportionsl6 attached to thebas'er Rising from the base is acylindricahpedestal 17 located fore wardly or the bars ll and having its axis in resp substantially Inid- Operating Within the cylinder'19 is piston sesame. MANLEY, 01 mm, PENnsYLVAnIA, AssIsNoR fro MAN EY M NntJAoTUR- I '23 formed Witharedu'ced upper extension24; -which, in the lowestposition of-the. piston,

projects slightly from the upper end'of the cylinderQ An annular plate 25 'is attachedto the upper edge offthe cylinder-"so as to close the space between thecylinder'a'nd the piston, for the purpose of preventing dirt, gravel, or

other matter from falling into thecylind'er.

' Secured to the top of the cylindrical ex tension 'Qtof the piston is a head 26 having an oblate spherical, or Inushroo1n,f0rni.' :As shownin the Sectional vieW,-1Figure2, the

-top ofrthe piston extension terminates infa boss 27 and the :head' "26' is forrn ed fWithg-an axial cylindrical portion 28' which projects from the under wallof the head and fits over boss 27 and is' secured by ascrew 29.].

,Head 26 is formed with twoipairs ofdown- Wardly and outwardlyextendinglugs30,one V V- pair extending fronrth-e front edgeoff-the f i headand the other pair from the rear edge,

and bolted to each of these four lug's'is a'n in- .clined cainbarBl, which extends downwardly to a point, down position" ofthe-piston,

connected by horizontal braces Piv'oted on rod-21 in ears 22 s apair arms 33' braced by integral cross pieces 84,

similar 'construction'is provided on the "front side of the 'cylindenthe arms of the approximately in the horizontal'plane pass ing through the lowerend of the cylinder,

tWo pairsbeing' of similar constructioncorresponding arms. of thepairs being located 1n the same Vertical plane. Transverse shafts 85, are jour'naled infarnis-33, just above the upper cross' piece's 34 'and'carr-ied'by'the outer ends ofthese shafts are rollers 36 which bear onthe'head 26, whjen thelatter'is in its lowest 'position,and whichtrayel on the-cam "bars 31 when the head rise'sL-i-jThe rollers are yieldinglyheldengaged with gthe headand so The outer surfaces of these bars are tangentialto the spherical head 26 and abut said 7 head 'so as to form substantially continuous surface's'therewith; The lower ends' of corending bars of the two 'p-airs'are rigidly portionhaving depending legs '41 and lat erally extending arms 42 terminating 1n vertical hooks 43. The legs 41 are formed with a number of holes 44 adapted to receive the rods 39, whereby the grab hooks may be pivoted on arms 33 ata plurality of points, -aflording vertical -a djustment ofthe hooks a'ccording to the size of the tire. As shown in Figure 2, the grab hooks are offset laterally with respect to each other for the .pur-

poseof preventing interference, this being accomplished by offsetting the end portion ,of one arm of each pair of arms 33. lnthe .i;llustration,the terminal portion of the right hand arm of the pair33 is inwardly offset .while the terminal. portion ofthe left hand arm 33 since the castings are identical, is inwardly offset. y

The tire to be inspected is adapted to be Supported, with its tread either touching or ."just above :the mushroom head26, by rollers 45 rotatably mounted on axles attached to the upper ends offa pair of U-shaped brack- .ets 4'6:bolted to :thefront and rear sides respeetively of the cylinder 19 near the upper end thereof. For laterally supporting and guiding the tire there is provided a U-shaped member mounted vertically above the cylinder-this member consisting of .two round ver- .tica*l,-pins .47 ,and 48 and a-horizontal connecting bar ,49; Bar 49 is seated in a-zchannel Qpiece i50 which rests on or is secured to ,a conical Washer 51 seated in a conical recess .formedin the forward .endofhousing 12; A

- bolt 52 passes through registering apertures in the:bar .49, the channel. piece50, the conical washer 51 and the housing 12 and itslower end is threaded to receive a clamping nut 52, whereby the U member may be turned andclamped in any desired angular position. Theforward .pin48 is slidably mounted ina bracket 53 attached to the forward Vendof bar 49 and is adapted to be clamped therein :by :a thumb screw 54. Housing 12 is formed with a horizontal socket 55 for the attachment of an -.electric-light bulb adapted to illuminate theinterior of the tire being inspecte'd.

.Gompressed vair is admitted into the bot- ,tom ofeylinder 19 .at one sidethrough a pipe .56 wvhich is secured at its lower end lIl';L valve :housing 57 in which is mounted. a suitable valve controlling the admission of com- .-;pressed airathrough a hose 58 leading to a source of air supply. 'I l e. stem'59 of this housing and is pivoted atits lower end to the rear end of a lever 60 which is fulcrumed at 61 and is formed with a foot piece 62 at its forward end. A coiled compression spring 63 acting between the valve stem and the valve housing tends to hold the inlet valve closed. An exhaust pipe 564 communicates with the bottom of the cylinder at the other side and opens at its lower end into a valve housing- '57 formed "with a port 65 "opening to the atmosphere. 'The outlet valve in this housing is connected to a foot lever 60 by coneetions similar in all respects to those described with reference to the admission valve. f

' To adjust thelimit of theupward move- ;1nen t o-f piston23, the following mechanism is provided:QPivoted in lugs 65 depending from the lower .edge 26 atjopposite sides of the headare bars 6 6,each formed with aplurality of; equispaced apertures i67 in any one of which a pin 68 is adapted :tobe inserted. To prevent -;mislaying the pins they are connect-ed to chains '69 permanently attached to the cylinder 19. The bars 66 pass downwardly through slotted ,lugsTO formed integrally withthe cylinder and are thus guided for vertical movement. *Theupward travel of the piston is stopped when the pins 68 engage the lugs .7 O, andithis travel ofcourse is greater orfless according to .the particular hole in which the pin is inserted.

The drawings show the normal ,positions of the several parts .of the apparatus. l/Vhen it is.desiredftousertheapparatus for the in spection andrepair of a tire, the; grab-hooks 40 are turned about their pivots 39 until the arms 42 ,of the rear hook restagainst the uprightsll ofgthe frame and the armsof'the front hook rest against the inclined cam bars 31.. The pin .48'hav-ing been slid down so as to offer no obstruction to the vlifting ofthe tireover-crossbar 49, the tire is lifted up on to the rollers 45 and the vpin 48 is slid up and clamped in .position, the top part of the tire beinggnow positioned in guiding position between the pins47 and 48. The pins are sufiicientlyspaced so that .when the vertical plane includingthem is atright angles toxtheplane of the tire the flargestsizetire can pass between them. Ifthetire is smaller the ,pins are angularly adjusted more vor less according to ithe slze, and in all cases are positioned so as to engagethe sides of the tire to support and guide it in a vertical plane.

It is to be here noted that by making [the forward .pin: 48 vertically movable so that it can be lowered outof the wayofgthe tire when being placed the apparatus, .theeflort necessary to-raise tire-over this pin is avoided.

Large tiresare heavy and cumbersome, and by the prov sion .of this movable pin a very considerable amount of effort and trouble is ,;avoided. inlet valveprojects downwardly. from the t l tbfi l g p operly s iQn d1 h f the lever 60 controlling the admission of com-.

hooks 40 are turned inwardly and are adjusted (by passing the pins 39' through the proper'holes 441) so as to be adapted to engage the opposite edges, or beads, ofthe tire in whatever may be the size of the tire The operator now presses down wlth his foot on pressed air into cylinder 19, and the pressure thus produced below the piston 23' causes the latter to riseand with it the head'26 and the cam bars 81. The head 26 rises against ,he tread of the tire while the action of the cam bars 31 on rollers 36 effects a smooth and uniform downward andoutward movement of the grab hooks 40 and a consequent down-.

ward and outward pull on opposite portions sure on its tread simultaneously with a downward and outward pull-on its beads at opposite sides of the point of application ofthe V upward pressure, tends to turninside out.

The tire c-anthus bespread more or less as desired by adjustment of the piston travel,

this being effected by inserting pins 68 in the proper apertures 67 of bars 66. f'When the inspection, or inspection and repair, has been j made at one point, the foot lever control ling the'exhaust valve is depressed, thereby placing the cylinder in communication with f the atmosphere, whereupon the piston, and

with it, the head and cam bars willmov'e back toward normal position under the. action-of gravity, the resiliency of the spread tire, and the urge of the springs 37. r The tire can'now be rotated to another position for furtherinspection, or removed. It is. desired to call attention tothe factthat in the present appa-- ratus, theoperations are controlled. solely by the feet, leaving the hands of the operator free to perform whatever manipulations may be required. r

What I claim'is: 1. An apparatus of the kind described comprising-in combination,a cylinder, a piston therein, a head connected to thepiston, means for'supporting a tire, arms pivoted' at their lower ends on spacedaxes fixed with, respect to the piston, hooks pivoted to said arms 7 1y as the head moves upwardly, 'abar moving.w

adapted toengage opposite beads of the tire,

3 and cam means to move the arms outwardly on their pivots upon the upward movement of the piston. i

'2. An apparatus ofthe kind described comprising in combination, a substantially vertical cylinder, a piston therein, a head over the cylinder connected to the piston, downwardly and outwardly extending bars secured to said head at opposite sides thereof, arms pivoted at opposite sides of the cylinder and carrying rollers'engaging said bars, and hooks pivoted to said arms-adapted to engage the opposite beads'ofa tire positioned over said-head." I

3. 'An 'appara-tusof the kind'described comprising {in combination, a? cylinder, a piston :therein,l1a' head over; the" cylinder connected 7 *td'the' pistOn, downwardly, and outwardly extending barssecured to {said head at :o'p-V 'posite'sidesthereof, arms pivoted' on' the cylinder-and carrying rollers to engage" said bars, and becammed thereby "as the piston 5 I movesinone direction, coiled tension springs connecting-opposite arms, and hooks'pivoted to said arms adapted-to engage theopposite beads of atire positioned oversaid' head.

4. Anapparatus at he kind d 'scribed comprising in combination, a substantially vertical cylinder, a pistontherein, a head 6 over the cylinder connectedato the piston,

means-for supporting a tire over'said head, hooks mounted at opposite sides ofthe head adapted to engage the "beads of a'tire posi- I tioned overthe head, connections between the piston and hooks-adapted to move the hooks downwardly and outwardly as the piston'and head move upwardly,ja valve controlling thef'9 admission of fluidunder pressureinto the ,low'erend of said 'cylii'ider, a valvecontrolling I the exhaust offiuid pressurefrom said cylinder,and"twofootlevers respectively 'con- -nected tos'aid valves";

prisingin combination, a frame including a base, a pedestal attachedpto the base, a cyl-' 51- An apparatus at the kind deser'ibeaedm inder supported'by the pedestal, a valve eonnected, to said valves, ahead over the cylinder,

qtrolling'the admission of compressed air into T fthe lower end'of said cylinder,'iaxvalve controllin-g communication 'ofthe cylinder with {the-atmosphere, foot levers operatively conrigid with the-piston, means for siipportingfa tire over-said head, hooks'gadapted' to engage opposite-beads of the tire,- and connections H between the piston-and hooks ada pte'dto, move the hooks downwardly and oi itwardly 6. An apparatus of the kind described com- V i as the piston andh ead move upwardly.

prising in combinatioma substantially vertlcal cylinder, a piston therein, ahead over the cylinder attached to the piston, means for supporting a tire vertically over the head, 5

hooks at opposite side of the. head adapted to'en'gage the beadsof the tire, means for moving the hooks downwardly and outwardwith the piston and head'formed with a plu- 2 may of apertures, a pin adapted to be inserted in any one ofisaid apertures, anda relatively stationary abutment adapted tobe engaged by said pin to limit the upward movement of the head.

7, An apparatus ofthe kind described comprising in combination, a substantially verticalcylinder, a piston therein, a headover 10 \m'ent ofthe head.

. hooks-adapted to engage opposite beadsfof the tire,. ;1neans, -;for, moving'the hooks downwardly' and ,outwardly as the K head moves upward- 1y, bars secured to and depending from the head :at opposite sides, slotted lugs' on the -,cylinder through which vsaid bars i pass, said bars being formed with a vplurality of holes, -pinsadaptedito be inserted-insaid'holesso as 'toengage-said lugslto limit the upwardmove- 8. An apparatus-of the kind described comprising .iin combination, a cylinder, a piston v V .therein, a headfattache'd to the piston, means forsupportinga gtire said means compris- 1 "ing a;pair;of vertical pins adapted to receive the upper portion of: atire, one of said pins being movable sothat it canbe lowered out ofathe Way of the tire when the-latter is being positioned-inthe apparatus, hooks adaptedto 12 engagelopposite beads-0fthetire,and-means .for moving the hooks downward and out- \T.' Z1l-"C :S.-S the head-rises.

9. In combination, means for supporting-a tire-at onepoint, means for guiding-aportion of said tirerdistant from saidsupported point,

said guiding means inoluding a fixed guide -a l cooperating adjustableguide .slidable towardthe-centerof the supported tire.

. 3 '10, i'ln combination, a tire supportinghead,

@13 a pair of pivoted hooks adaptedtogrip the r l,

headsotthe't1re',,and means :formovmgthe hook pivot-s ,outwardly and downwardly, said means including two pivotedlinks, the piv- ,ots of'which are spaced apart a, distance not "=3 less than the widthof the'tread'of the tire 11. Incomhinatioma tire supporting head, ;a -pair-of pivoted; hooks adapted to grip the beadsof the tire, and means for-movingthe V h-hookpivots-outwardly and downwardly and simultaneously raising thehead, said means including two "pivoted links, the. pivots of which are spaced apart a distance not less a than thexwidtho'f the treadof the tire. 1

zln jtestimony whereof I affi-x my signature.

" ROBERT E. MANLEY. 

